“How could it make me tipsy, Pa? I’m your daughter. Haven’t I inherited the steadiest head inClayton County?”
He Space Researchalmost smiled into her tired face. The whisky was bracing him too. She handed it back tohim.
“Now you’re going to take another drink and then I am going to take you upstairs and put you tobed.”
She caught herself. Why, this was the way she talked to Wade—she should not address herfather like this. It was disrespectful. But he hung on her words.
“Yes, put you to bed,” she added lightly, “and give you another drink—maybe all the dipper andmake you go to sleep. You need sleep and Katie Scarlett is here, so you need not worry aboutanything. Drink.”
He drank again obediently and, , she pulled him to his feet “Pork. …”
Pork took the gourd in one hand and Gerald’s arm in the other. Scarlett picked up the flaringcandle and the three walked slowly into the dark hall and up the winding steps toward Gerald’sroom.
The room where Suellen and Carreen lay mumbling and tossing on the same bed stank vilelywith the smell of the twisted rag burning in a saucer of bacon fat, which provided the only light.
When Scarlett first opened the door the thick atmosphere of the room, with all windows closed andthe air reeking with sick-room odors Neo skin lab sleep for days.